Once in a while, Jonathan Richardson realizes he has to make a major change. Then he does. The West Des Moines native was attending Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah, when he realized his field of study, natural science, wasn’t right for him. He took a few years off from the world of academia to work at a ski resort. Then he decided to return to Des Moines and get a degree in business with a marketing emphasis. Richardson said he still loves science, but for his goals and talents, marketing was a better fit.

Since graduating from Drake University in 1997, Richardson has worked as marketing director for Dave Ostrem Imports (now European Motorcars), as manager of business for the national division of the Weitz Co. and as marketing manager for an information technology firm. He then joined Renaissance Design Group, where he worked at a creative director. For the last year and a half, he has also been doing freelance marketing and writing.

Recently he decided to send his life in another direction, leaving RDG in April and starting his own marketing firm, Contact. Richardson’s company specializes in writing — creating text for Web sites, advertisements, videos and presentations.

“I think marketing is an important aspect of running a business,” he said. “It requires an investment of time and concerted effort to do it correctly.”

Starting his own firm allowed Richardson the time and autonomy to choose his clients carefully and devote as much time as he deems necessary to polish each product. He also enjoys the challenge of running a business.

Richardson has been busy lately. He and his wife have 1-year-old twin sons to look after, and Richardson, a nominee for the 2004 class of the Greater Des Moines Leadership Institute, is busy gathering projects, writing and spreading the word of his new venture. He says named his company Contact because that’s what marketing is all about, and what he has to offer — contact with businesses, customers and the community.

“The hardest part is letting people know what you have to offer and building momentum,” he said. “You have to keep rolling, get your name out, keep networking.”